Severe illness of Theodora; choice by courtiers of Michael (VI) Bringas (stratiotikos) as successor

Summary:
Theodora reigned alone for one year and eight months. Around midday on the day of her death, the empire's high officials were concerned with the succession. They included Leon Paraspondylos, Manuel, droungarios of the vigla, Niketas Xylinites, logothetes of the dromos and Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai. They were scheming to appoint a new emperor who would retain and support them in prosperity. Psellos was also present, watching them playing cynically with the future of the empire. Before Theodora died they put Michael VI, who had taken an oath never to act without consulting them, on the throne, so that real power might be in their hands. Theodora agreed at once 
Dates:
1056 
retinue and household of Theodora who guided her rule (Anonymi 7011)
  • They persuaded Theodora 1 to honour Michael 6 with the crown; she agreed at once, crowned his head with the diadem and proclaimed him emperor (:) τοῦτον οὖν ἐκείνην πεπείκασιν ἀξιῶσαι τοῦ στέμματος Psellos: Chronographia VIa 21.1-3
  • They all despaired of Theodora 1 (when she fell ill), and immediately fixing their attention on the state and also on themselves, they began to deliberate (:) περὶ τοῦ παντός, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ ἑαυτῶν σκοπὸν τίθενται, καὶ βουλευμάτων κατάρχουσι Psellos: Chronographia VIa 19.9-12
  • Michael 61 was himself present when the decisions and plans were made (at Theodora 1's death), seeing with his eyes and hearing with his ears how they tossed imperial affairs as in a game of dice (:) ὅπως αὐτοῖς ὥσπερ ἐν κύβων παιδιαῖς τὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἐστρέφετο πράγματα Psellos: Chronographia VIa 19.13-16
  • While the sun was not yet at its midday peak and Theodora 1 was scarcely breathing and expected to die at once, they were gathered round the throne, Leon 62 in the middle, scheming whom to set over affairs above the rest (:) ἐν σκέμμασιν ἦσαν τίνα πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐπιστήσουσιν Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.1-6
  • They were scheming to appoint a new emperor who would support them, be constant and protect their prosperity: in association with Leon 62 (:) τίνα ... ἀνθεξόμενόν τε αὐτῶν καὶ ἀειπαγῆ καὶ τὴν εὐδαιμονίαν φυλάξοντα Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.4-6
  • They led Theodora 1 to think that affairs were in order, thought she would live for ever without ageing ... that their own prosperity was fixed, declined to put anyone in power or ensure the best succession to power - inexcusable folly (:) οἴεσθαι ἐκείνην μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ἡλικίας ἀεὶ βιώσεσθαι Psellos: Chronographia VIa 15.17-24
  • Since their hopes gave out for her, they gatherred and debated whom they would bring in instead to rule, who would preserve their prosperity and good fortune (:) Zonaras 17.29.6
  • Michael 6 Stratiotikos seemed to them appropriate [to succeed Theodora 1] (:) Zonaras 17.29.7
Leon Paraspondylos (Leon 62)
  • While Theodora 1 was still on her deathbed he put Michael 6, who had taken an oath never to act without consulting him, on the throne as a puppet emperor, so that real power might be in his hands: in association with the eunuchs of Theodora 1 (probably Niketas 107, Theodoros 105, Manuel 103) (:) Skylitzes 480.31-40
  • While the sun was not yet at its midday peak and Theodora 1 was scarcely breathing and expected to die at once, Anonymi 7011 were gathered round the throne, with him in the middle, scheming whom to set over affairs above the rest (:) ἐν μέσῳ τὸ κορυφαῖον ἔχοντες Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.1-6
  • He was scheming to appoint a new emperor who would support them, be constant and protect their prosperity: in association with Anonymi 7011 (:) τίνα ... ἀνθεξόμενόν τε αὐτῶν καὶ ἀειπαγῆ καὶ τὴν εὐδαιμονίαν φυλάξοντα Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.4-6
Manuel, droungarios of the vigla (Manuel 103)
  • Probably one of the eunuchs of the dying Theodora 1 who, along with Leon 62, put Michael 6, who had taken an oath never to act without consulting him, on the throne as a puppet emperor, so that real power might be in his hands: in association with the other eunuchs of Theodora 1 (probably Niketas 107 and Theodoros 105) (:) Skylitzes 480.31-40
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • Proclaimed emperor by the palace officials after the death of Theodora 1, he associated them to his rule keeping them as allies and fulfilling their wishes and plans (:) κοινωνοῖς αὐτοῖς τῆς βασιλείας καὶ συνασπισταῖς ἐξ ἅπαντος χρώμενον Attaleiates: History 52.19-53.2 / 40.1-6
  • Placed on the imperial throne as a mere puppet emperor by Theodora 1's eunuchs (probably Niketas 107, Theodoros 105, and Manuel 103) and Leon 62 while she was still on her deathbed, he took an oath never to act before consulting them (:) ἵνα σχῆμα μόνον καὶ ὄνομα αὐτὸς ἔχῃ τῆς βασιλείας Skylitzes 480.31-40
  • Was proclaimed emperor by the eunuchs of Theodora 1 (:) Glykas 599.20-600.1
  • Seemed to Theodora 1's supporters (Anonymi 7011) appropriate to succeed her (:) Zonaras 17.29.7
  • Anonymi 7011 persuaded Theodora 1 to make him her replacement in imperial power (:) Zonaras 17.29.8
  • Theodora 1 immediately crowned him with the imperial diadem, after he had first been bound by terrible oaths that he would manage nothing in the administration of the empire without the consent of her supporters (Anonymi 7011) (:) Zonaras 17.29.9
  • Anonymi 7011 persuaded Theodora 1 to honour him with the crown; she agreed at once, crowned his head with the diadem and proclaimed him emperor (:) τὴν κεφαλὴν ταινιοῖ καὶ ἀναδείκνυσιν αὐτοκράτορα Psellos: Chronographia VIa 21.1-3
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He does not talk (of events at Theodora 1's death) from hearsay, but was himself present when the decisions and plans were made, seeing with his eyes and hearing with his ears how Anonymi 7011 tossed imperial affairs as in a game of dice λέγω δὲ ταῦτα οὐ παρά του ἀκηκοώς, ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὸς τοῖς γνωσθεῖσι καὶ βουλευθεῖσι παραγενόμενος, ὀφθαλμοῖς τε ὁρῶν καὶ ὠσὶν ἀκούων, ὅπως αὐτοῖς ὥσπερ ἐν κύβων παιδιαῖς τὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἐστρέφετο πράγματα Psellos: Chronographia VIa 19.12-16
  • He does not now wish to describe whom Anonymi 7011 preferred above the rest, but he will say that they did not completely miss their target, except that he (Michael 6) was not the kind of man to rule but rather one to be ruled and led ὃν μὲν οὖν τῶν ἄλλων προκεκρίκασιν οὐ νῦν χαρακτηρίζειν βεβούλημαι, οὐ πάντη δὲ τούτους ἀποφανοῦμαι διημαρτηκέναι τοῦ ἀρίστου σκοποῦ, ... Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.7-11
  • He was himself present when the decisions and plans were made (at Theodora 1's death), seeing with his eyes and hearing with his ears how Anonymi 7011 tossed imperial affairs as in a game of dice (:) αὐτὸς τοῖς γνωσθεῖσι καὶ βουλευθεῖσι παραγενόμενος, ὀφθαλμοῖς τε ὁρῶν καὶ ὠσὶν ἀκούων Psellos: Chronographia VIa 19.13-16
Niketas Xylinites, logothetes of the dromos (Niketas 107)
  • Probably one of the eunuchs of the dying Theodora 1 who, along with Leon 62, put Michael 6, who had taken an oath never to act without consulting him, on the throne as a puppet emperor, so that real power might rest in his hands: in association with the other eunuchs of Theodora 1 (probably Theodoros 105 and Manuel 103) (:) Skylitzes 480.31-40
Empress Theodora (Theodora 1)
  • Reigned alone for one year and eight months and when she was about to die the empire's high officials were concerned with her succession (:) ἐμονάρχησε γὰρ χρόνον ἕνα καὶ μῆνας ὀκτώ Attaleiates: History 52.11-14 / 39.12-15
  • When she knew she was going to die, she appointed Michael 6 to the throne (:) καὶ τὴν ἀνάλυσιν αὐτῆς γνοῦσα τὴν ἐκ τοῦ σκήνους ... Manasses, Chronicle 6232-6236
Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai (Theodoros 105)
  • Probably one of the eunuchs of the dying Theodora 1 who, along with Leon 62, put Michael 6, who had taken an oath never to act without consulting him, on the throne as a puppet emperor, so that real power might be in his hands: in association with the other eunuchs of Theodora 1 (probably Niketas 107 and Manuel 103) (:) Skylitzes 480.31-40